Load Advisor

Negative prices are the headline story today. Across NSW, VIC, SA, and QLD, predispatch is showing sustained negative pricing from 8:00 AEST onwards through to at least 9:30 AEST, with savings against current spot prices exceeding $80/MWh in NSW and $85/MWh in VIC and SA. This is a Sunday with low industrial demand and strong renewable generation — classic conditions for an extended low or negative price event.

The deepest trough will be in NSW, where prices are forecast to fall to around -$10.50/MWh between 9:00–9:30 AEST, representing a saving of up to $87.49/MWh against the current spot of $65.51/MWh. VIC follows closely, with prices forecast around -$11.32/MWh by 9:00 AEST — a saving of $86.31/MWh against its current $59.53/MWh spot. SA is the standout for absolute depth, with predispatch showing prices reaching -$11.38/MWh by 9:00 AEST and savings exceeding $327/MWh relative to its volatile reference, though current spot is $61.55/MWh. QLD will see negative prices from around 8:00 AEST with the deepest forecast at -$19.55/MWh around 9:00 AEST — the steepest negative across the interconnected NEM today.

TAS remains the exception: spot is already elevated at $96.24/MWh and predispatch holds prices near $92–100/MWh throughout the morning window. There is no load shifting benefit for Tasmanian consumers today; if anything, TAS flexible loads should be deferred away from this window. WA data is stale and should not be acted upon.

The recommended action is straightforward: schedule all deferrable loads in NSW, VIC, SA, and QLD to run between 8:00 and 9:30 AEST today. The 9:00–9:30 AEST half-hour is the single best window across all four regions simultaneously. Avoid pre-loading demand ahead of the 7:30 AEST window when NSW and VIC prices are still positive at around $8–$11/MWh. In TAS, hold flexible loads until conditions improve or shift them to interconnect-influenced off-peak periods later in the day.